adj.
(heavier, heaviest)
- of great weight; difficult to lift or move.
- of great density; thick or substantial.
▸(of food) hard to digest; too filling.
▸(of ground) muddy or full of clay.
- of more than the usual size, amount, or force:
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a heavy cold.
▸(of a smell) overpowering.
▸
(heavy on)
using a lot of.
▸doing something to excess:
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a heavy smoker.
- striking or falling with force.
- not delicate or graceful; coarse or slow-moving.
- needing much physical effort.
- very important or serious.
▸mentally oppressive; hard to endure.
▸informal strict, harsh, or difficult to deal with.
- (of music, especially rock) having a strong bass component and a forceful rhythm.
- Physics containing atoms of an isotope of greater than the usual mass:
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heavy water.
n.
(pl. heavies)
- informal a large, strong man, especially one hired for protection.
▸an important person.
- chiefly Scottish strong beer, especially bitter.
Phrase
- heavy going
a person or situation that is difficult or boring to deal with.
Derivative
- heavily adv.
- heaviness n.
- heavyish adj.
Etymology
OE hefig, of Gmc origin; rel. to heave.
